Interested in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Tips?

 

From Software has released its latest title called Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Unsurprisingly, it is challenging, meaning that interested individuals might want to brush up on tips to make their playthrough smoother than otherwise possible.

 

What Are Some Examples to Keep in Mind?

 

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

 

Sekiro Isn’t Souls

 

Fundamentally, Sekiro isn’t the next installment in the Souls series, meaning that interested individuals shouldn’t make bad assumptions based on their experience with the Souls series. For example, the most basic pattern in the Souls series is waiting for a weakness, hammering that weakness, and then retreating before getting hammered in turn. In Sekiro, this is a bad idea because retreating will let enemies regain their posture, thus making it that much more time-consuming to land the killing blow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use the Open Environment for Observation Purposes

 

One of the biggest changes from the Souls series is the open environment of Sekiro. Players should make frequent use of this feature for scouting purposes, which will enable them to figure out their enemies as well as the circumstances under which they can engage their enemies. If they see a situation that is too formidable for them to fight through, the open environment should provide them with further options for getting through such obstacles in one way or another.

 

Use Your Items

 

It is perfectly understandable for people to want to stockpile their limited use items in RPGs. After all, if they use them now, they can’t use them later, which will presumably have harder enemies. However, this is the wrong mindset because using the right items at the right times can make the difference between victory and defeat in numerous encounters in Sekiro, particularly since its items have much more of an effect than their counterparts from the Souls series.

 

Don’t Go Into Head-On Fights

 

Some people might be tempted to rush into head-on fights. However, this tends to be a pretty bad idea, not least because it is a good way to get swarmed by much less scrupulous enemies. Instead, players should do their best to engage their enemies with the odds stacked in their favor as much as possible. This means that they should be attacking their enemies from stealth, engaging their enemies when they are alone and isolated, and running away from fights whenever the odds start turning against them. Sekiro has pretty punishing consequences for getting killed, meaning that players should always see discretion as being the better part of valor in this game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Can Eavesdrop

 

When in stealth, it is possible for the player to eavesdrop on enemies under certain circumstances. This can provide them with useful information about how to handle upcoming enemies, thus providing them with what could be a much-needed edge.

 

Infinite money and XP

 

Use the following trick to easily farm money and XP early in the game, right after you have defeated the first main boss. It is also risk free since there is no chance you will accidentally die and lose a lot of your saved money. Simply go to the “Gun Fort” sculpture idol in the Sunken Valley area. Then, go back to find an enemy with a cannon standing in the doorway. Defeat him using stealth from behind, then run back to the sculpture idol and rest. Repeat this as many times as desired. You can do approximately four runs per minute, resulting in over 12,000 sen and 70,000 XP every hour. 

 

Note:This trick was performed on an unpatched version of the game. It may eventually get patched. To avoid not being able to use this exploit, either do not install new patches before using this exploit or delete the patches. You can avoid patches being installed by disconnecting from the internet until you are ready for the game to install new patches.

 

 

 

 

Hard mode

 

There is a Demon Bell you can ring to make the game harder. It is currently unknown if there are any rewards connected to increasing the difficulty of the game. The bell is located at Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – Demon Bell’s Temple. There is a Sculptor’s Idol at the temple, allowing you to easily return at any time. The following are the two routes to reach the Demon Bell:

 

Early route: Aishina Outskirts, Outskirts Wall – At the stairway, past the General mini-boss, go right from the arena and take the cliffside path. At the Temple Posting note, grapple to the tree, then drop down onto the ledge below. This is a tricky jump that leads to a large cave entrance. The cave contains the Headless mini-boss. Jump down into the dark arena, and run across to a smaller cave passage with a secret wall. Lean against the wall to enter the Demon Bell’s Temple.

 

Normal route: Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – At Shugendo, before the Armored Warrior, use the cliffs and follow the path up. It is to the left of the Armored Warrior boss bridge. Drop down and take the secret bridge along the cliffs. You will need to make a tricky jump —- the bridge is located below the area with the red and white pinwheel. This path leads to the white pinwheel.

 

To activate the Demon Bell, approach it and inspect the bell, then use the ringing mechanism. You will gain an item and an effect. You can disable the Hard difficulty with the item in your inventory, allowing you to return to the Normal difficulty. In Hard mode, enemies are harder to defeat and inflict more damage, but they also drop better loot.

 

 

 

 

All Gourd Seed locations

 

Search the indicated locations to find all nine Gourd Seeds and get the “Ultimate Healing Gourd” trophy. Finding all Gourd Seeds allows you to upgrade the Healing Gourd so you can heal more often. You can have up to ten Healing Charges (you start with one and collect nine seeds for the others). After finding a Gourd Seed, you must take it to Emma. Early in the game, she is at Dilapidated Temple. Later in the game, she changes location to Ashina Castle, Kuro’s Room.

 

The final Gourd Seed is missable. It is in an optional story area called Fountainhead Palace. You can only get there by choosing the second dialogue option (“Break the Iron Code, Stay Loyal to Kuro”) when talking to Owl in Ashina Castle at the end of the game. This allows you to continue the game to reach Fountainhead Palace. If you choose the first dialogue option, you will betray Kuro and the game will end early, preventing you from reaching that area.

 

Timeline

 

1. Ashina Outskirts: Outskirts Wall Gate Path Idol – 0:05

2. Ashina Outskirts: Outskirts Wall Staircase Idol – 1:51

3. Ashina Outskirts: Ashina Castle Gate Idol – 2:22

4. Ashina Castle: Ashina Castle Idol – 3:16

5. Ashina Castle: Ashina Castle Idol – 4:20

6. Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo: Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo idol – 6:54

7. Ashina Depths: Mibu Village Idol – 7:56

8. Sunken Valley: Under-Shrine Valley Idol – 8:38

9. Fountainhead Palace: Palace Grounds Idol – 9:22

 

 

All Prosthetic Tool locations

 

Search the indicated locations to find all ten Prosthetic Tools (weapons) and get the “All Prosthetic Tools” trophy. None of them are missable, as you can get them at any time and in any order. After finding one Prosthetic Tool, you must take it back to the Sculptor at the Dilpaidated Temple so he can fit the tool to your arm. They can be used as secondary weapons in combat.

 

Timeline

 

1. Loaded Shuriken – 0:05

2. Shinobi Firecrackers – 0:27

3. Flame Vent – 1:16

4. Loaded Axe – 1:54

5. Mist Raven – 3:04

6. Loaded Spear – 4:03

7. Sabimaru – 5:18

8. Loaded Umbrella – 5:50

9. Divine Abduction – 6:34

10. Finger Whistle – 6:56

 

Secret Great Serpent boss fight

 

The location of this boss fight is Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo area, Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo idol. This boss fight is only possible after unlocking the “Puppeteer” Ninjutsu by defeating the Folding Screen Monkeys boss at the end of the Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo region. You must also have progressed through the Sunken Valley region to make the Great Serpent available to kill. Then, go to the Senpou Mt. Kongo idol (first one in that region). From there, drop down the cliff to the right to see a single enemy standing by a lever with a kite attached. Backstab this enemy and use the Puppeteer skill on him. He will then use the lever to move the kite and hold it in place. Next, go through the monk forest, through the prayer room, and to the next area where a large tree is on the right side. From that tree, you can grapple the kite and fly to the other area.

 

Then, drop down the platforms and grapple tree branches as you fall, until you reach the Sunken Valley Cavern idol. From there, you will reach a dead-end where where you can balance on a wooden beam and the snake will be below you, but only if you have already advanced through the Sunken Valley region. To defeat the Great Serpent, simply drop down on the Great Serpent’s head from the path you had followed above to execute it. There is no actual fight, as it will instantly die. The reward for defeating the Great Serpent is the Fresh Serpent Viscera (key item) and “Great Serpent” trophy.

 

 

 

Easy General Naomori Kawarada boss fight

 

The location of this boss fight is Ashina Outskirts – Outskirts Wall Gate Path. Immediately after this sculptor’s idol, you will encounter a big samurai. He is the only enemy in the courtyard. To defeat him, sneak above the rooftops on the left, without being seen by General Naomori. Then, sneak up to him from behind and stab him in the back to immediately take away one of his lives. Next, simply attack with the standard sword attacks (R1), and whenever he attacks simply block (or counter by pressing Block (L1) just before his attacks land).

 

Blocking is less risky though. After he finishes an attack, chain attack him again. Repeat this until his guard breaks to defeat him. Also, remember you have a revive and can restore health. The reward for defeating General Naomori Kawarada is Prayer Bead and Gourd Seed.

 

Easy Chained Ogre boss fight

 

The location of this boss fight is Ashina Outskirts – Outskirts Wall Stairway. Immediately after this sculptor’s idol, you will see the Chained Ogre upstairs. First, kill all of the smaller enemies in the area. Before going upstairs to fight the Chained Ogre, defeat the two guards at the bottom of the stairs. After going upstairs, go around the left corner to kill the enemy with a spear. You will now only have to fight the ogre.

 

When the ogre attacks, press Left Analog-stick Up and dodge twice to get behind the ogre where he cannot hit you. Land two to three hits and repeat. Use this strategy to defeat the ogre without taking a single hit. The reward for defeating the Chained Ogre is Prayer Bead and Shinobi Medicine Rank 1.

 

Easy General Tenzen Yamauchi boss fight

 

The location of this boss fight is Ashina Outskirts – Outskirts Wall Stairway. In the next area after the Chained Ogre boss is the General Tenzen Yamauchi boss. Ignore the boss at first and just kill all of the smaller enemies in the area. Try not to lose too much health. After the smaller enemies have been defeated, go back the way you came and escape the boss’s sight. Then, return and sneak behind his back and attack from behind to instantly take one of his lives.

 

When the boss attacks, press Left Analog-stick Up and dodge twice to get behind the boss where he cannot hit you. Land two to three hits and repeat until his defense breaks. If you killed the first boss, Naomori, you will have gotten a Gourd Seed from him. Another one can be found in the building after the Chained Ogre. Use these two seeds to upgrade the healing gourd (health flask) twice so you have three heals. The reward for defeating the General Tenzen Yamauchi is Prayer Bead.

 

Easy Gyoubu Oniwa boss fight

 

The location of this boss fight is Ashina Outskirts – Ashina Castle Gate Fortress. After the previous boss, General Tenzen Yamauchi, you must drop down a cliff (where a tree is facing a large gap to the other side). After dropping down, you will reach a canyon where a big snake attacks you. Proceed through this area and follow the main path until you reach a battleground where Gyoubu Oniwa comes riding on his horse through a gate. Gyoubu is the first real “main boss” in the game. He rides on a horse and attacks with a spear.

 

His strength is his long reach, but his weakness is his poor defense. As with any big boss, first learn to block all attacks; do one test run and just block everything without even worrying about attacking. When you got the attack pattern memorized, you can start. The easiest way is to block his chain attacks until he performs a heavy attack that leaves him defenseless for 2-3 seconds. Then, attack him twice. Immediately start blocking again (or if your posture is about to break), dodge back 2-3 times to get away and take a moment to let the posture recharge. Just block all of his attacks (do not counter, just hold [Block]) and always attack when he is unable to move. Repeat this process. It takes a while, but it is relatively riskless. Also, look out for when a green dot appears above Gyoubu’s head. You can then grapple him with (L2).

 

This will also temporarily make him unable to move for 2-3 seconds, allowing you to land a couple hits. Then, just block again. You could also keep your distance and let him ride around the area, then only use the grapple and attack twice, get away, wait for the next grapple opportunity, and repeat. This way you can always land two hits while keeping your distance. After taking his first life, he will start performing a sweep attack (red icon on screen). Jump (X) to avoid it. When you take his second life, press R1 again to execute him. The reward for defeating the Gyoubu Oniwa is Gyoubu Oniwa (Strength upgrade) and Mechanical Barrel (Prosthetic Tool upgrade).